Finding Part-Time Work
Every part of the country has some economic factor that furnishes part-time work. No matter how much of your own food and other essentials of life you produce yourself, you're still going to need some cash and finding part-time work is often the best opti
September/October 1973
By Dan Bentley
When Shona (my wife) and I decided to return to the land, we knew it would be tough sledding for a while ... because no matter how much of your own food and other essentials of life you produce yourself, you're still going to need some cash. Unless things have changed recently, the County Auditor doesn't accept bushels of pumpkins to settle real-estate taxes.
RELATED CONTENT
A serious commitment to reversing climate change could result in the elimination of 1.2 billion ton...
The U.S. Department of Energy heads an effort to create new jobs in renewable energy as part of the...
Employment opportunities in the U.S. wind power industry increased 70 percent in 2008, and a record...
Bills in the House and Senate are proposing a federal standard that would require utility companies...
According to a new report from the Center for American Progress, we could be well on our way to a c...
I think this very question—how to have a cash income without being caught up in the 9-5 routine of a city job-is the one hang-up that most often prevents people from going back to the land. In my experience, at least, this is the main worry that usually comes out in any discussion of the subject.
My own solution was to start hunting up part-time jobs, always stipulating that—if possible—they had to be outdoor- and nature-oriented. The list of things I've done to make money over the years is varied, interesting and probably adaptable to any part of the country.
To begin with let's take my favorite part-time employer ... the Minnesota State Forestry Service, which has furnished Shona and me with a lot of well-paying short-term work. I started with the agency as a towerman in the local lookout. My job was spotting and calling in smokes. I then transferred to the ground as a smokechaser, and Shona took my place in the tower.
When the danger of fire subsided that first year I was hired to help with local reforestation projects, both county and state ... and from there went on into custom tree planting for private individuals. After I'd set out a considerable number of seedlings for one man who owned a large amount of land, he hired me to build several miles of nature trails that wound scenically over his property. I then accepted a seven-months-a-year position with the state as Forest Officer and began fitting the tree planting and trail building into my spare time.
That schedule worked out quite well. I wasn't burdened with or harnessed by a full-time career-type job and I had plenty of time for my homestead chores: gardening and collecting roots, driftwood and insects for sale.
If you don't want to get involved that deeply working for the government, it will still pay you to check out the local ranger station anyway. Minnesota's State Forestry Service hires smokechasers and standby firefighters on a daily basis, especially during times of high fire danger. Or, if you should see the smoke of a blaze near you, go to the scene and check with the man in charge ... help is always needed, and you may be hired.
Page: 1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Next >>
